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Thursday, July 31, 2014

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There is nothing
quite as exciting as setting off on your summer holidays, bidding farewell to
your home for a couple of weeks and embracing the sunshine of somewhere exotic.
However you and your family are not the only ones who are eagerly looking
forward to you getting away for a while, as the summer holiday season is a
prime time for criminals looking to exploit the empty properties that are left
behind.There could be
nothing worse than returning from hard-earned rest and relaxation only to come
home to find you have been burgled, saddling you with even more stress than you
had to endure before you went away - but what can you do about it? Read on as
the experts at Security Solutions Yes Ltd.take you through
their top tips for keeping your home secure.Get Help From Your NeighboursCriminals who know
what they are doing will look out for properties which appear to be currently
unoccupied - signs like no cars being on the driveway or the curtains being
closed all day or left open all night. By asking your neighbors for some help,
you can give the impression of a lived in property for the duration of your
holiday.Ask if they can park
their car on your driveway occasionally, and give them a spare key to your
house so they can go in and open up the curtains/blinds during the day or close
them at night.Automatic
LightsLess of a problem
at the height of summer when it is lighter for longer, but homes that are
completely dark throughout the evening are a dead giveaway that a house is
currently unoccupied. Moreover, simply leaving the hall light on all the time
would not help either as this will appear obvious you are trying to make it look
like you are there – when even potential criminals know you are not.Instead, invest in
timers for your lighting and set them to turn on and off at certain times.Do Not
Announce Your Holiday on Social MediaWhen you are looking
forward to going away for the summer it can be tempting to announce it to all
of your friends and family about just how excited you are. After all, you can
trust your family and best friends, but what about that guy you went to school
with 20 years ago and have not really spoken to since. Can you really trust
every of your friends who follows you on Twitter?To be on the safe
side wait until you get home, by which time you can shout from the rooftops
just how fantastic a time you had and how great you look with your new tan.This
guest blog was written by John Rooney on behalf of Security Solutions Yes Ltd,
one of the UK's leading providers of domestic and commercial security services
in Norfolk.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Looking at this vibrant home, it's hard to imagine that this Manhattan home is less than 1,000 square feet. Using bold patterns and eye-popping colors, designer Nick Olsen managed to transform this home into a beautiful, dazzling space for his young professional client. Let's take a tour, shall we?

This is such a gorgeous home, don't you think? The bright, bold colors and patterns are totally calling my name. I can't get my eyes off the beautiful chairs, stunning floors and the unexpected color scheme. The blue suede door with the nailheads is my absolute favorite, it is such a delightful detail! What catches your eyes, my lovelies?

It is time to remodel. How do you get started? Like anything else, with a
to-do list, of course. Here are some basics to consider for the next redesign project, a generic
list that may need adaptation depending on how large or small your own project
may be.Why Are We Doing This

A
remodeling project is going to upend your home or your business. What used
to be convenient will soon be blocked off by tarps and dust protection. Speaking of tarps and dust, don't forget to look for a good skip hire for your project debris disposal. Make
sure there is a good reason for getting into this in the first place.If the answer is yes, proceed to question two. However, keep your project
goals in mind and evaluate every step based on that. No sense calling the
design a success if it does not accomplish what you set out to do.It is instinctual for some, but for others, not so much. Do not forget to
estimate the value of your home after you are done. After all, some projects
take value away from a home, while most add to it.Can We Do This?Down the block sits a concrete home with an extravagant silo-looking tower
in the front and a bunker-looking two story home behind it. And it has sat
there for years, not moving forward or backward - a roof, but no windows, huge
concrete blocks in place, but no move whatsoever toward completion.Someone, evidently, ran out of gas. The funding got the project off the
ground and substantial progress was made, but someone forgot to cross all the
Ts and dot all the Is.I wish I had a dime for every remodeling project that only got partway done
before it was abandoned.Cost OverrunsIn the trade, costs that go above and beyond the allocated budget are called
overruns. That means – phew! – you did not invent the problem of running
into unsuspected problems part way through a project that added on to costs. As
such, you should have a contingency plan to deal with this.For starters, put aside (or borrow) more than you need to to get the project
done. There is likely a formula out there for cost overruns – something simple
like putting together a budget and then adding 20 percent just in case it is
needed. Banks will certainly understand that strategy and lenders do not want an
unfinished project anymore than you do.SchedulingIt is quite likely you will need to schedule a project exactly a year after
you first thought you should. This is to make up for the point that
construction firms know the opportune time to start a major project is in the
spring. Because of that, you may find out that builders are already booked one
season in advance. If you dream up renovations this year, you might have
another year to wait. In so many words: Get in line.That said, if a project is largely or completely indoors, try to negotiate
off-season rates. Many construction workers take a month or two off deep in the
off season and workers for the most part would far rather make a paycheck than
collect unemployment.Line Up Your Team; Ask AroundArchitects frequently recommend construction firms they have worked with in
the past. Construction firms frequently nominate architects. But this should
not stop you from conducting a solid reference check on anyone you hire. You
are spending hard earned dollars, after all.People in small cities or rural areas with a local pool of talent have no
guarantee a contractor is honest, but they have a better chance of it. After
all, if a local firm can survive year after year in one community, it is likely
they have dealt fairly with their customers.In bigger cities, it gets trickier. My father had a house built once in the
suburbs of a major city and visited the construction site one day to find a
worker painting the iron pipes a copper color. By the time he made a phone call
to an attorney, the company had relocated to another state.Insurance and BondsDeal only with companies that can show proof of insurance and have a surety
bond. Sites like Econtractorsinsurance.com make
it easy for contractors to obtain the necessary insurance online. If you need to, have an attorney check this out for you. You can also make
inquiries at the surety bond company or with state regulators to ask about the
history and current compliance status of a company.While contractors need general liability insurance, the surety bond
guarantees the contractor will complete the job according to the specifications
spelled out in the contract. If the company cuts too many corners, fails to
finish a job on time, or orders materials without paying for them, the surety
bond covers this.

Monday, July 28, 2014

When popular Hollywood celebrity Jessica Alba teamed up with Domaine's creative director Mat Sanders and his team of designers to transform her home's interiors, the results is nothing short of stunning. Let's take a tour of her fabulous abode, shall we?

Colorful, layered with a sense of rustic bohemian vibe, her home exudes warmth, comfort and style. I really love the mix of prints and patterns and shiny metals throughout her home. My most favorite element in this tour is definitely the bold and gorgeous tiled fireplace, what about you? Stylish, airy and cheery, this home is a winner in my books! What are your thoughts, my lovelies?

Sunday, July 27, 2014

This article is written by Paul Watson.Do you ever wander into your home and feel
like you have stumbled onto the set of The Wire? Have your interior design choices
ever been compared to that of Pete Doherty’s? Do you think of that reddening
bit of mold in your bathroom when somebody mentions “warm colors” to you?It is easy to let your home become a pigsty, but if you want to feel happier and healthier you are going to need to make
a few design changes. Let's go from room to room and give you
some advice, shall we?BathroomYour bathroom is the easiest to let go to
pot. Mold can attach itself to your walls like molluscs to a damp rock, and
that is not to mention lime scale and patches of damp.Start off by adding aqua colors that are
easy to wipe clean, then invest in a durable bath mat that would not be a
nightmare to wash. For a touch of class and warmth, buy some candles to dot
around the place, giving you the perfect opportunity to have a relaxing soak in
the tub.Living
roomYou will probably spend most of your time in
your living room, whether you are plowing through your latest Breaking Bad box
set, finishing up a good book or hanging out with some friends. No matter what its size, you ideally want
your living room to be as cosy as possible.Find a focal point in the form of a coffee
table and let it be surrounded by comfy seating. And while you might want at
least one seat to face the telly, try not to let it dominate your living room –
you will only create an anti-social space.BedroomIn an ideal world, the bedroom is where
you will head to sleep and nothing else. It is where relaxation truly sets in and
you can drift off in the peace and quiet of a dreamless night.

For the ideal kip, invest in someblackout
curtains to block out the sun, and find a “goldilocks” mattress that will be
comfy enough to ease into but sturdy enough to avoid damaging your back.

However, the room should not just be as
barren as a bed and some curtains. If you struggle to sleep, buy a sound system
that can play relaxing music to lull you into a fulsome snooze.

Kitchen

When you are creating your culinary
masterpieces, it is important to have the right utensils at hand. Have your pans
and whatnot near the oven, and be sure that your cooking utensils are sturdy
and durable enough to take a battering when you are washing-up.

It is also vital to invest in surfaces that
can withstand spills and burns from your cooking exploits. So, invest
in linoleum or hardwood floors, granite or marble worktops and you will be
set to Gordon Ramsay your nights away.

Friday, July 25, 2014

An American couple decided to build their dream home in Morocco after falling in love with Marrakech. They enlisted Caitlin and Samuel Dowe-Sandes of Popham Design for design help. The results? A vibrant, pattern-packed bungalow. Let's take a tour of this fabulous home, shall we?

This home is such an eye candy! The gorgeous tiles, bold patterns and striking color scheme are absolutely swoon-worthy. Warm, layered and visually delightful, it is hard not to be inspired by this refreshing home. I like that the whole design look collected and effortless to boot! I love this home tour, how about you? Are you a fan of bold design or otherwise? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Thursday, July 24, 2014

This post is provided by Temenouzhka Zaharieva.Have you thought about how important it is to have the best possible lighting at these areas of your
home? Here are several reasons:1. We often have to enter our home at night and
good lighting is an obvious necessity for safety reasons.2. We need good lighting especially if there is
no natural light streaming in.3. It is the first thing that visitors see. Ifyou have beautiful lighting,
you will create a great first impression and make your guests feel welcome.But in addition to these obvious reasons, you have to think how best to plan the lighting for your entrances,
hallways and stairs. It is also important to keep in mind that proper choice of
lighting can save money on your bills as well.First, lights that come on automatically when someone else
approaches can save energy and at the same time improve your home security. It
will also make you feel safer as you unlock the front door. Second, halogen
lighting for spotlights and hallway lights is cheap to run. And it is environmentally
friendly and durable, too.Another alternative are LEDs- green,
energy efficient, emit more light per watt than incandescent light bulbs, and
their efficiency is unaffected by shape and size. They are ultimately
long-lasting,can decrease your energy consumption and can be very flexible.From point of view of
type of lighting, it is possible to have wall sconces, spotlights, a
centerpiece ceiling lamp or a combination of all of these. Modern ceiling
lightsare a wonderful way to illuminate hallways without taking up
too much space and at
the same time add grandeur. For a long passagewaya series of modern ceiling lights should be
used.Or you can add wall sconces – their low level lighting is alluring
without being distracting. Spotlights can be placed strategically to illuminate
shadowy places.Display lighting is
both stylish and practical when you need to spotlight a special piece of
artwork, brighten a built-in cabinet, or accent a particular area and it adds
to the whole lighting scheme of the space.Another important thing to
consider is how lighting is reflected by the surfaces in your hallway - hardwood
or glossy flooring will require softer, warmer lightingthat will not produce harsh reflections.And finally – remember
that the style and design of your lighting can determine the overall impact of
your home. Sometimes a single great designer lighting can become the centerpiece in a space. If you have a lighting like
this in your entrance hall, then you have succeeded in creating a great first
impression we are all looking for.Looking for ceiling lights? You will find more ceiling lighting fixtures on www.interior-deluxe.com.

Now you have seen the elegant living room and the spacious backyard, which one is your favorite? In my opinion, those stunning étagères, pair of gorgeous chairs, preppy roman shades and fabulous photographs are absolutely swoon-worthy, which makes me gravitates towards the stylish living room more. Do you prefer one room over the other as well. Thoughts?

About The Author

Welcome to my blog. I am an Interior Decorator based in Chicagoland, Illinois. Married and a mommy to my 12 year old son. Through this blog, I will be sharing my passion for design and my inspirations with you. Occasionally, I will also be showing you my home and some of my clients' decorating projects. I am a firm believer that a beautiful home can be achieved in any budget through creativity and smart shopping. Currently, I am offering e-design (online decorating) service at an affordable rate to help you create a home that reflects you, a home that will make you smile every time you walk through the door. Hope you have fun following along. Email me at mixandchic(at)yahoo(dot)com if you have any questions. Thanks for reading!

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